Microsoft began laying off thousands of employees, targeting less than 3% of its global workforce in a move to streamline operations and reduce management layers.

Microsoft announced on Tuesday it will eliminate approximately 6,000 positions globally, representing 3% of its workforce, as the tech giant seeks to streamline operations and reduce middle management layers.

In Washington state, software engineers made up more than 40 per cent of the roughly 2,000 positions cut. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The layoffs, which affect thousands of employees, come soon after the tech titan issued an optimistic financial forecast.

Microsoft's planned layoffs will cut 3%, nearly 6,000 employees, across all levels, teams, and geographies to reduce layers of management.

Microsoft began laying off about 6,000 workers Tuesday, nearly 3% of its entire workforce and its largest job cuts in more than two years as the company spends heavily on artificial intelligence